The site was issued a “yellow card” warning in September 2023 due to concerns over poor management and inadequate infrastructure.
“Geopark status is not only a form of protection but also an opportunity to create a space for learning and the development of sustainable tourism,” Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stated in a press release here on Wednesday.
During her visit to the caldera on Tuesday (July 8), she emphasized the importance of preserving the Toba Caldera Geopark, which is not only a geological site but also a habitat for unique biodiversity and the Batak tribe's cultural heritage.
She underscored the importance of conservation, education, and sustainability in managing the tourism destination.
To improve the site and regain the UNESCO “green card” status, Wardhana suggested that the North Sumatra provincial government install more educational signage throughout the park.
“Thus, the tourists can learn about the geosite, including how the crater was formed and the types of rocks found here,” she explained.
Wardhana highlighted that with its rich endemic biodiversity and the vibrant traditions of the Batak community, Lake Toba—formed from a massive supervolcano eruption thousands of years ago—can serve as a prime example of how a geopark integrates science, cultural heritage, and humanity.
North Sumatra Governor Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution called for stronger collaboration to ensure that the lake’s tourism potential benefits local prosperity.
“We must optimize this natural potential to generate economic benefits and improve the welfare of the people living around it,” he emphasized.
As quoted from UNESCO's official website, if a UNESCO Global Geopark meets the criteria outlined in the field evaluation report, it will maintain its status as a UNESCO Global Geopark for another four years (known as a “green card”).
However, if the site no longer fulfills the criteria, the management body will be notified and given two years (so-called “yellow card” period) to take corrective actions to regain the “green card.”
If the site fails to meet the criteria within two years after receiving a “yellow card,” it will lose its UNESCO Global Geopark status altogether (referred to as a “red card”).
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Reporter: Hreeloita Shanti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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